Our Story
Origins of Philippine-Italian Friendship
What brought together the lasting relationship of these two countries geographically so far apart from each other? What strengthens the bond of Filipinos and Italians? H.E. Amintore Fanfani, President of the Senate of the Republic of Italy, in his written message at the unveiling of the Antonio Pigafetta Monument in Cebu City on April 12, 1980 summed it up this way:
... that the monument not only commemorates Pigafetta but also the bonds that unite the Italian and Filipino peoples.
It was for these very reasons that on February 19, 1962, Italian Ambassador, Eugenio Rubino and Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican, Proceso E. Sebastian, founded the Philippine-Italian Association, fondly known as “PIA.”
Signora Lina Paolini Lorenzo, the Founding of PIA, and Our first 60 years
Six months after the founding of PIA Signora Lina Paolini Lorenzo was appointed Secretary General and retained the title until her demise on October 7, 2011, a few months before PIA’s Golden Anniversary in 2012. She served PIA for 49 years through her selfless and tireless efforts promoting true friendship between Italy and the Philippines. Her dedication was amply rewarded and recognized by the Republic of Italy. The highest rank award ever given to an Italian living outside the country was bestowed on her on November 18, 2003 — Knight Commander “Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana.”
The very existence of PIA all these past 60 years is credited to her unselfish dedication and loyalty to her mandate. PIA was her “baby” and she dedicated her whole life with much “gusto”.
Another stellar and exemplary Director of the PIA, Ambassador Bienvenido R. Tantoco, Sr. and his daiugher, Zenaida Rustia Tantoco, who, at the “Volare Notte Italiana” 2004, was conferred the Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà with the rank of Knight Commander, by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, through H.E. Ambassador Umberto Colesanti “ — “for their significant contribution to the enhancement of the prestige of Italy and the diffusion of Italian culture and lifestyle.”
The Philippine-Italian Association believes in its Mission of encouraging, developing, promoting and nurturing friendship and understanding between Italians and Filipinos. PIA manifests its aims through networking and programs of cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchanges. In the last 60 years, it has successfully organized a spectrum of activities. This will continue into the future. The Association aspires to influence and enrich lifestyles in the community.
Culture, Language, and more…
Launched in the first decade was the teaching of the Italian language through in-house courses and in various universities in Metro Manila. Organizing Italian film showings, festivals, tours and trips to historical landmarks of outstanding Filipino and Italian artists; offering Italian library facilities and a variety of services — translations, documentation and other business needs.
In cooperation with the Italian Embassy co-sponsoring regular lecture series, supporting exchange scholarship programs, cultural interchanges and activities like concerts, musicals, art exhibits, master classes of art restoration experts and other significant events have been part of the PIA agenda. Periodically, in cooperation with multi-sectional institutes and agencies, events are organized and co-sponsored.
The premier annual event is the colorful “Notte Italiana” — a major pacesetter. Designed to promote and foster Filipino-Italian friendship and camaraderie — a kaleidoscope of activities range from regional Italian cuisine to concerts and musical featuring famed international artistes. Among them were Italian violinist Uto Ughi, Cecile Licad, world-renowned Filipino pianist and many more.
In 2002, PIA’s 40th Ruby Anniversary, “Carnevale Italiano Duemiladue” was a most colorful evening of masked and costumed Venetian personalities — such revelry!
In celebration of PIA’s Golden Jubilee 2012, the much-applauded Gioachino Rossini’s, “II Barbiere di Siviglia in Manila” was a main event for PIA’s “Notte Italiana”. Leading Italian and Filipino operatic stars delighted audiences, under the baton of the late PIA member, Maestro Ruggero Barbieri, former guest conductor of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, who flew-in all the way from Bergamo.
A very special project of the Philippine-Italian Association is the publishing of the life and works of Maestro Diosdado Magno Lorenzo. A dream that Signora Lina Paolini Lorenzo kept hopes in her heart for — all these years. The Lorenzo coffee-table book — “Art Rebel to Legend” with Alice Guillermo, author, in collaboration with two PIA directors — Silvana Ancellotti Diaz and Betty Ildefonso-Chalkey, editorial consultant. This book was launched at the National Museum of the Philippines, and finally published by the Philippine-Italian Association and the Tantonco- Rustia Foundation in 2009.
At the beginning of 2022, in the year of its 60th anniversary, thanks to a very important agreement signed the previous year with the Patronato ACLI, the PIA opened the first Patronato in the Philippines (and in the entire South East Asia Region) aimed to assist citizens of any country, Italy, Philippines, et al., who moved/returned to the Philippines after having worked in Italy. These people, having acquired the right to retire with an Italian Pension, can now avail of the free assistance of the PIA and its new Patronato Service to file their application and enjoy their rights. Many of these senior citizens have already become members of the PIA, in order to somehow maintain contacts with the Italian culture, and the bonds created over the years with Italy.
The 2022 marks also a watershed in the development of the PIA Italian language school and, more generally, in the Italian language teaching in the Philippines. In fact, after having brought back to the Philippines the Italian Language Proficiency Exams (CILS exams), recognized by the Italian government, the PIA entered into separate agreements with two important Philippine universities, De La Salle University Manila and Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite, to add Italian Language to the curriculum of their European Studies and Foreign Service students, respectively. In this same year, the PIA was also recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Center for the promotion of Italian language in the Philippines. Finally, it won an important bid of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to train in Italian language Philippine Diplomats and Embassy Personnel that will be assigned to Italy and the Vatican.
Our Global Affiliation in the Name of Enriching Culture
Aside from the multi-faceted cultural exchanges among European language groups — a new dimension has been added recently. The official signing of the founding documents of the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) Cluster Philippines on Bastille Day July 14, 2011 was hosted by the Alliance Francaise de Manille. A non-political body, founded by the Goethe Institute and co-founders — the Philippine-Italian Association and the Alliance Francaise will broaden and improve cultural programs of most of the cultural institutes in the country in cooperation with embassies in Manila. It will network with European societies to strengthen international dialogue and communication with countries outside Europe. Membership is encouraged.
Aside from the multi-faceted cultural exchanges among European language groups — a new dimension has been added with the founding, in 2011, of the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) Cluster Philippines. A non-political body, founded by the Goethe Institute, the Philippine-Italian Association and the Alliance Française aimed to broaden and improve the cultural cooperation among these institutes and other EU Embassies and other cultural institutions, to promote European Languages and Cultural Diversity in the Philippines.
In the past years, the PIA has also integrated the Cultural and Education Group of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, and proactively supports its initiatives. Of all these, the PIA is particularly involved in the organization of the European Higher Education Fair in the Philippines, which has become an important tool in the promotion of Philippine-Italian universities exchange.
The PIA works very closely also with the Embassy of Italy in Manila, on cultural and language programs, with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, with Uni-Italia for the promotion of Italian universities. Many are also the Philippine institutions that supports the different PIA activities, including the National Library (NLP), the Cultural Center (CCP), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Film Development Council (FDCP), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the National Museum, and many others. And, along the years, the PIA has also been able to network with Philippine organizations in Italy, with which it develops regular activities on Philippine Culture and Arts.
PIA at the Turn of the Century and at Present
For all these glorious years full of rich memories and the benevolence of our loyal members, patrons, sponsors, admirers and believers in our Mission — the Philippine-Italian Association exists all these 60 years without any financial support from any government, local and foreign. Fund-raising events, projects and, the generosity of our followers have woven for PIA — A Tapestry of Golden Friendships which supports and maintains its goals!
Since the year 2002, through the dynamic leadership of Ms Zenaida Rustia Tantoco when she assumed the PIA presidency, it has been a roller-coaster ride all the way to the present — where she still holds the helm! With the full support of Ambassador Bienvenido R. Tantoco, PIA’s longest-serving president, the Philippine-Italian Association Endowment Fund was launched with a bang! The generous endorsement of the Ferragamo Family, the Italian Embassy in cooperation with Alitalia, Shangri-La Hotel and the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation made all this possible.
During these past years of Covid Pandemic, the PIA has remained active and kept the connections with all its partners, proposing with them a broad variety of programs broadcast via the internet. And, now, with the situation finally returning to normal, the PIA has finally returned to organize events in presence and meet its members and audience face to face.
Here an info-graphic on the first 55 years of the Philippine Italian Association
